Nixzmary's Law : New York Amends Aggravated Murder Statute
New York Governor David A. Paterson recently announced that he signed a bill amending New York’s Penal Law §§ 125.26 and 70.00(5). Under the new law, an adult who intentionally causes the death of a person under the age of fourteen years old can be found guilty of Aggravated Murder if they tortured the victim prior to death. [Penal Law §§ 125.26] The bill also authorizes a sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. [Penal Law §70.00(5)] The justification for the bill was the heartbreaking Nixzmary Brown Case. The bill was sponsored in the New York Assembly by Assemblyman Joseph R. Lentol. The assembly bill number is A 5080. The bill was sponsored in the New York Senate by Senator Ruben Diaz. The senate bill number is S 6091. The new law took effect October 9, 2009.
